88

Still frozen from the shock, I stood and tried to run, but my legs were shaking, making it impossible for me to move forward. I closed my eyes briefly, took a few deep breaths and gathered all my strength to free myself from the rigidity and be able to continue running.

It worked and I turned out of breath into Noah's street, walked more slowly to the house and noticed the open door. Step by step I padded carefully through this and stood in the small hallway. As I held the air looking across into the living room, there was broken glass all over the floor and it looked like it had been robbed. My heart was beating uncontrollably against my ribs as the tremors spread throughout my body. I only felt fear and panic and didn't want to imagine what might have happened here.

Just as I was about to take a step into the living room to look around the corner, someone grabbed me from behind and clamped my mouth so hard I couldn't scream or breathe properly. I tried with all my strength to free myself and threw myself around wildly, but it was no use and I let my arms fall loosely while tears of fear ran from my eyes.

It was only after he turned me around that I recognized him and slowly he let go of me and put his index finger to his mouth to signal me to be quiet. My companion was back, looking just as shocked as I did. Unfortunately, the sight of him didn't calm me down at all this time, but I was glad that I didn't have to go through here alone. He gave me a gentle kiss on my forehead and crept past me into the living room. I would have loved to have held him and that forever, but it wouldn't have been of any use, because someone had to see what had happened.

I stood in the hallway and watched him walk to the middle of the room and then freeze, staring at the garden. He didn't move anymore, just looked into the void and the sight of him took my breath away. Before I could go over to see what was going on, he held out his hand in my direction and motioned for me not to go any further.

He was starting to scare me and even more panic rose in me when he suddenly moved forward and I couldn't see him anymore. All I heard was the door to the garden opening, followed by a cry of pain and then the Alpha growling menacingly. Not knowing what was going on outside, I stared at the green armchair and mentally freaked out.

The uncertainty was driving me insane and I couldn't just stand there any longer. I didn't want to leave my mate alone, so without a second thought I ran across the living room to the door to see the worst thing I had ever seen in the garden.

Killian stood with his back to me, snarling in front of Caleb, who was pointing a gun at him, looking like the devil himself. Next to Caleb, Linda sat on her knees crying and I cried at the sight of her and as I looked down I was immediately painfully aware of why she was crying so bitterly.

Noah lay there, covered in blood. He was shaking all over and was holding Linda's hand. My whole body was about to collapse at the sight and I knew a panic attack was on the way, but this time I couldn't let it happen. Noah had to go to the hospital immediately, the voice in my head screamed over and over. My fear kept me trapped here, not wanting to take a step further and wanted to run away, but I had to push my fear away, conquer it and be strong for those I loved.

I courageously agreed with the voice and slowly went outside with raised hands. I just wanted to get past Caleb to help Noah, but he aimed his gun at me as I took a step towards the injured man and gave me a menacing look.

"No! Don't you dare aim it at her! Alicia, get back in there now!" Killian yelled so loud that it echoed from all sides. With a big step, he resolutely placed himself between me and the grey-haired man, but he just grinned.

"Do you really think it's worth it? You don't get it son, it-"

"Don't ever call me son again," Killian growled at his father.

"It makes me so angry what you let yourself be made of here because of such bastards. I raised you for greater things!" Caleb yelled angrily and immediately afterwards knocked Linda to the ground. He laughed and suddenly Killian growled louder than ever and started for him, but Caleb shot his own son in the leg without batting an eyelid, so that my mate fell to the ground.

My heart broke at the sound of the gunshot and with tears in my eyes I frantically bent down to my mate, who kept screaming and rolling over in pain. I didn't know what to do and tried to calm him down, but hating Caleb made me look up at him.

I looked at the pistol in his hand while he was busy fussing with himself, but before I could grab it, Killian transformed under my shaking hands and lunged at his father, roaring loudly.

I jumped backwards in shock and stood up again, completely overwhelmed. The growls and screams drove me insane. I covered my ears and turned to the other two to see if they were still okay. Damiano suddenly stood with them and for the first time I saw the big one crying and fear in his eyes. He helped Linda carry Noah out and he tried to grab my hand too, but I pulled my hand back and shook my head wildly. Not wanting to leave my mate alone, I quickly put my hand back to my ear and stared after the three of them disappeared into the living room.

Heart racing, I turned back to watch Killian standing over Caleb and suddenly saw the same situation we had been through on the beach. It was only seconds, but it was happening in slow motion before my eyes. The Alpha bit his father's neck and shook him. Blood was running down everywhere and it was so horrible that my hands fell off my ears and just fell down on me. I stood there in shock, saw only blood and even the smell of roses disappeared, only a metallic smell from the red liquid clouded the garden.

I should be relieved that nothing happened to my mate, but watching someone die again, no matter what kind of monster they were, threw me completely. I couldn't move until the pistol fired a final shot. I frantically approached the wolf, who snatched the gun from Caleb's hand with one paw, who was lying lifeless on the ground with his neck half severed. A horrible picture, so horrible I couldn't even cry and just stood there in shock.

I stared down at the corpse with wide eyes while Killian transformed back and quickly pulled on his scraps of clothing, then came towards me and hugged me tightly.

I lay trembling in his strong arms and tried to understand everything, but there was no time for that now. I wanted to see Noah as soon as possible, wanted to see if they were already in the hospital and how he was doing. I pulled out of the hug and suddenly saw blood on my companion's torso.

"Did the bullet hit you?" I asked while I searched him in a panic and my voice trembled. He shook his head in the negative and looked down at the blood and suddenly my whole life passed me by.

Everything in my mouth suddenly tasted of blood, and as the adrenaline slowly subsided, I felt excruciating pain in my upper body. I cried out in fear of death, but couldn't get a word out, only looked anxiously with my mouth open into his horrified eyes. Killian talked to me, but I couldn't perceive anything anymore, only noticed how everything was getting darker, how my legs made me sag and just wanted to get rid of one direct thought of him in this world.

I love you.

Then everything went black around me and the darkness engulfed me.